LOGINEVE'S POV The night before the audition was anything but peaceful.I lay in bed, staring at the ceiling as the moonlight spilled in through the half-open curtain. My heart was racing, not out of fear, but something far more complex-hope, pressure, nerves, and a desperate need to prove I belonged.It was almost midnight, and while the world outside drifted into sleep, my body refused to settle. The room was still, yet my thoughts danced louder than ever.Tomorrow wasn't just another day.It was the day.The day I would walk into Adam's Cultural Center and submit my application-the day I would audition.Thousands were applying. Only one would be chosen for the scholarship.I wanted it to be me.No-I needed it to be me.I was unsure how I would react if I was not the eventual winner. The mere thought of it caused my heart to race.I rolled over, clutched my pillow, and squeezed my eyes shut. But sleep wouldn't come. Every time I tried, my mind ran through every beat of the dance I'd reh
EVE'S POV "Yes!" Daniel shot to his feet, punching the air with triumph like he’d just won a million-dollar lottery.I couldn’t help but chuckle at his excitement, but I raised a hand to calm the storm before it got out of control."However…" I began, deliberately drawing it out.Daniel stopped mid-celebration, dropping his fists. His grin faltered."However what?" he asked, suspiciously.I turned to face him squarely. "If I apply and don’t get the scholarship, I’m calling it quits. That’s it.”His face fell. “Wait—what? Why would you say that?”"Because..." I took a deep breath, trying to gather my thoughts. "Mum's already stretching herself thin. Just getting the application form costs more than we can afford. I can’t let her keep burning herself out because of me. It feels...wrong."Daniel stared at me for a moment, stunned. Then his face hardened with determination. “Okay, fine. But promise me one thing—you’ll at least give it your best shot.”"Of course,” I said softly.“Then
EVE'S POV "You're trending!"Daniel’s voice rang out like a fire alarm in the middle of the night. My eyelids barely fluttered open, and I stared at him as if he’d just told me aliens had landed on the roof.He was beaming, grinning from ear to ear, his phone clutched in one hand, vibrating with excitement.I groaned. “What now, Daniel?”He bounced on the balls of his feet like a kid who had downed three cans of energy drink. “You’re trending, Eve. As in—worldwide!”Still half-asleep, I buried my head deeper into my pillow. “Is this one of your stupid pranks again? Go away.”I was too tired to deal with his antics. The dull ache in my limbs and the weight behind my eyes begged for sleep. But Daniel wasn’t going anywhere.“No, seriously, you need to see this!”“I swear, Daniel, if you don’t get out of my—”He darted across the room and dropped beside me on the bed. The mattress dipped under his weight, and I shot him a venomous glare.He held out his phone like it was a golden tick
MAXWELL'S POVOdette and I had been seeing each other for about eight months now.Yes, even while Selena was still in my life.She knew about Odette. She always did. But she stayed quiet—perhaps out of fear that causing a scene would ruin things for the kids. Selena was always like that—self-sacrificing, too forgiving.The truth? I began cheating when I stopped finding her attractive.It wasn't just her. It was what I let my mind believe. My friends always talked about how their wives changed after childbirth. They called it “losing their glow.” I started seeing Selena through that distorted lens—chubby, tired, no longer desirable. The narrative poisoned me.And then came Odette—twenty-six, vibrant and seductive. A woman who saw me as the ideal catch. Of course she did. I’m successful, charming, and I don’t look a day over thirty-five. No one would ever guess I’m pushing fifty.“I’ll be back before you miss me. Be a good girl” I teased, giving her a firm kiss and a playful squeeze on
EVE’S POVThe shrill sound of my alarm shattered the silence of the early morning. I groaned without opening my eyes, blindly reaching across the bed with the sole intent of silencing it forever. My fingers met nothing but air. Lucky for the phone—it was just out of reach.I flopped back against the pillow, my brows furrowing. I hated being woken up when I hadn’t had enough beauty sleep. The alarm finally shut off, and I sighed in relief, turning over with the hope of slipping back into the comfort of slumber.But no—just as I was drifting off, it rang again.“What the hell!” I snapped, sitting up with a burst of rage. I rubbed my eyes aggressively before yanking the phone off the lampstand and jabbing the screen to silence it.Too late. Sleep had already fled.Muttering under my breath, I tossed the phone aside and dragged myself out of bed. The chilly breeze from the window hit me like a slap. That’s right—I’d left it open last night thinking the fresh air would lull me to sleep.
EVE'S POV “It was an arranged marriage,” Mom began, her voice low and steady. “To be exact, it happened when I turned twenty. My uncle—bless his soul—thought it was a wise decision to marry me off into the family of one of his old friends. He wasn’t doing too well financially at the time, so to him, it was an opportunity.”She paused, eyes flickering as though replaying an old, painful film in her head. I noticed the way her fingers trembled slightly as she brushed away a tear.“I wasn’t like you, Eve. I was timid. I wasn’t brave. I didn’t question anything. I just assumed my uncle’s choices were for the best.”The room fell silent except for the soft hum of the air conditioner. The dining room lights cast a warm yellow glow that bounced off the glass of water in her hand. I reached out, gently sliding it closer to her. She took a small sip, then exhaled.“I married Maxwell. And to his credit, he let me continue my education—at first. I had you when I was twenty-three. After you were
NOVARIA’S POVKelvin wasn’t nearly as terrifying as I had first imagined. In fact, watching him awkwardly try to explain himself and apologize made him seem strangely… human.And honestly? I respected that.Most people would have ignored my fear completely, especially men like them–Dangerous, powerf
NOVARIA’S POVSylvester shifted slightly beside me, carefully adjusting the blanket over my body as though he was afraid I would get cold.“Good morning,” he said softly, his deep sleepy voice filling the room. “Did you sleep well?”I rubbed my eyes tiredly before sitting up slowly on the bed.“Yea
NOVARIA’S POV“Jake,” the stranger’s deep voice cut through the freezing air like a blade, “what the fuck did I tell you the last time?”The entire alley fell silent. Even the wind seemed to stop moving.My shaky gaze slowly shifted toward the man who had grabbed me earlier.Jake.The color drained
NOVARIA’S POVPeople’s obsession with winter had always baffled me.The soft snow, cozy sweaters, hot chocolate by the fireplace… everyone made it sound magical. But to me, winter was nothing more than a cruel season wrapped in pretty lies. No matter how many layers I wore, the cold always found it







